Textile item comprising receptacle for housing a portable electronic device, particularly a textile clothing item

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a textile item comprising a receptacle ( 20 ) for housing a portable electronic device ( 10 ), characterised in that the above also comprises a functional marking ( 21 - 24 ) on an accessible face ( 20 ) thereof, which comprises at least one code the distribution of which coincides with the control bodies of the portable electronic device, such that each code may be placed in correspondence with a control body on the portable electronic device ( 10 ) when the portable electronic device ( 10 ) is placed in the receptacle ( 20 ).

This invention relates to the domain of textile articles, particularly but not limitatively clothes or clothing or apparel accessories.

In the context of this invention, the expression “textile article” should be understood as including all such articles, regardless of the material from which they are composed, particularly in the case of a woven, knitted or other article. This invention is particularly applicable to any article made of leather, plastic, composite or any other equivalent material.

A number of developments made in recent years in the field of intelligent or communicating clothes, are related to the ergonomics of portable electronic device control interfaces during use.

Voice recognition is one of the proposed solutions, but it would appear to be difficult to apply in locations in which silence is imposed.

The possibility of translating a user gesture by sensors would appear to be one interesting application. But the use of this type of sensor causes complex and fairly large assemblies with uncertain reliability, and not very economic.

Button or keypad type interfaces are appearing and are being used as physical actuators in textile supports.

These actuators have new properties in terms of suppleness, fineness and connection to portable electronic elements, so that they can be included in clothes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,550, U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,112, U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,181, and WO-0079546).

However, no existing proposals are fully satisfactory.

Most developments mentioned in the state of the art do not take account of one or more of the following parameters at all, or only very slightly: clothing care, for example washing, resistance to weather, mechanical resistance to wear, shocks and tension, and comfort of the “apparel”

This is largely due to the transposition of materials and supports not very different from those used in conventional electronics, to badly adapted textile supports.

These sometimes complex actuators have an embodiment requiring electrical connections, or electronic processing of the generated information, which makes use more complex and increases the size.

An electrical power supply sometimes needs to be input.

The complexity of the design and implementation also causes a high production cost.

Finally, these technologies that are more closely related to electronics than textiles, are affected by the almost complete lack of ergonomic or aesthetic customisation, although these are among the main functions of clothes.

The general purpose of this invention is to propose new means to make it easier to wear and use portable electronic devices.

The above-mentioned purpose is achieved in the context of this invention by means of a textile article comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a portable electronic device in order to facilitate its use, characterised in that it also comprises functional markings on one accessible face of the receptacle, composed of at least one code, the markings being arranged to coincide exactly with the locations of control devices of the portable electronic device, such that each code can be placed facing a control device of the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is placed in the receptacle ergonomically adjusted to the electronic device. This invention is particularly applicable to clothing textile articles and to portable electronic devices forming portable communication tools, for example mobile telephones.

Preferred but non-limitative aspects of the article according to the invention are given below:

The markings are fixed on a support and placed on an outside face of the receptacle.

The receptacle comprises at least one element made of a semi-rigid material.

The receptacle comprises at least one element made of a non-slip material.

According to one of the preferred aspects mentioned above, the support is reinforced.

According to one of the preferred aspects mentioned above, the support comprises at least one polymer, silicone or coated engineering fabric type material.

The article is designed from materials resistant to washing at 40° C.

The receptacle is made of a natural and/or artificial fibre.

The receptacle is made of leather.

The marking codes are printed.

The marking codes are embroidered.

The marking codes are woven.

The marking includes colour type codes.

The marking includes distinct symbol type codes.

The marking includes Braille type codes.

The receptacle includes an opening closed by a zip fastener.

The receptacle includes an opening closed by a loop and hook system.

The receptacle includes a press stud type opening.

The receptacle includes a magnetic button type opening.

The receptacle includes a staple type opening.

The portable electronic device is of the radio type device.

Other aspects, purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear after reading the following detailed but non-limitative description given with reference to the attached drawings, among which:

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show diagrams showing the operating principle of the invention for any portable electronic device.

More precisely:

FIG. 1 shows a portable electronic device with four control devices.

FIG. 2 shows a receptacle of the portable electronic device in FIG. 1, seen transparently, with an opening.

FIG. 3 shows the receptacle in FIG. 2, provided with codes coinciding with the control devices of the portable electronic device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of the receptacle at the receptacle—control devices interface of the portable electronic device, in the special case shown in FIG. 3 in which the control devices in FIG. 1 are push buttons.

FIG. 1 shows a portable electronic device 10 with four control devices, the control devices being marked as references 11 to 14.

In FIG. 2, a receptacle 20 of the tool 10 is provided with an opening 25.

The portable electronic device 10 may thus be inserted and removed from a receptacle 20, for example by sliding.

In FIG. 3, the distribution and geometric arrangement of four special codes 21, 22, 23 and 24 on the outside non-rigid surface 26 of the receptacle 20 correspond to the control devices 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the tool 10.

Thus, by entering a code 21 to 24 corresponding to the associated command, the required command 11 to 14 is activated.

This action is preferably applied by pressing with a finger.

The markings preferably indicate firstly the location of the control devices for the portable electronic device 10 located in line with these markings, but also their functions.

Therefore the markings of the receptacle 20, composed of the complete set of codes, correspond to the markings of the portable electronic device 10.

With reference to FIG. 4, the correspondence between the markings of receptacle 20 and the control markings of the telecommunication device 10 is demonstrated in the special case of push button type control devices.

Due to the relative flexibility of the material chosen in this case for the surface 26, the pressure exerted at the location of code 21, 22, 23 or 24 is transmitted through the surface 26 to button 11, 12, 13 or 14 respectively, thus triggering the digital command associated with it, inside tool 10.

The receptacle 20 is preferably a textile receptacle, and particularly a textile resistant to intensive washing for which no special precautions are necessary.

The choice of materials for receptacle 20 and the markings, and the lack of built-in electrical components, thus enable standard care of the clothing or textile accessories, and particularly washing using a washing machine without any risk of damaging the article according to this invention. All that is necessary is to remove the tool 10 before washing.

The receptacle 20 is preferably designed in exactly the same way as a pocket in conventional clothes, particularly taking special care with its opening method and the materials used as a function of the user target and the type of clothing support.

A zip fastener type of opening and closing may be used.

A loops and hooks type of opening and closing may be used.

A press stud type of opening and closing may be used.

A magnetic button type of opening and closing may be used.

A staple type of opening and closing may be used.

Preferably, the geometry of the receptacle 20 is complementary to the tool 10 to prevent any large space between them, such that the control devices of the tool 10 are automatically positioned with regard to the markings whenever the tool 10 is placed in the receptacle 20.

The materials used in the receptacle 20 and/or on the tool 10 itself to hold the tool 10 and its control devices precisely in place with respect to the corresponding markings are preferably semi-rigid materials.

These materials may be non-slip materials.

In particular, these materials may be polymers, silicones or coated engineering fabrics.

The same haberdashery accessories can be used as those used for closing means of the receptacle 20, to reinforce holding portable electronic devices 10 in place, particularly very precisely facing the corresponding signs, and in particular be designed so as not to hinder insertion and fast removal of the electronic device.

The control devices of the portable electronic device 10 are thus placed in a precise manner facing the associated codes.

The portable electronic device 10 is inserted and removed precisely and quickly from its textile receptacle.

In one preferred embodiment, the portable electronic devices that will fit into receptacle 20 are specially designed to protect themselves from the mechanical forces (shock, friction, etc.) that may remain during insertion and removal of the tool 10, and particularly to physically protect the electronic components integrated into tool 10.

Concerning comfort, the article complying with this invention may preferably be included in a design moving towards an “apparel” containing the portable electronic device 10, that is pleasant to wear and not constrictive for the wearer.

The markings for receptacle 20 associated with control devices may preferably be made according to different print, embroidery and weaving techniques, using all types of haberdashery materials and accessories that may be incorporated into clothes.

The nature and embodiment of these markings are developed more particularly with reference to the user and the usage context.

In particular they may include writing symbols (words, letters, numbers, writing signs, Braille, etc.).

In the special case of Braille signs, blind persons can thus recognise control functions of a portable electronic device 10.

The codes chosen for the markings may be in different forms in two or three dimensions that may or may not be representative.

For example, they may be tones or colours (for example a series of different colours of fabric strips, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3).

In particular, the particular use of attractive colours or patterns in markings provides a young child with a means of discovering the controls of the portable electronic device 10 corresponding to the recognition codes of his family and friends as part of a game, but also he can keep this tool 10 on him at all times, particularly by wearing the tool incorporated into the textile at all times.

The choice of markings may also relate to the aesthetics represented by the codes.

For example, the signs may be made using traditional fabric design and manufacturing tools and consequently may be available from all types of materials, colours or shapes specific to conventional clothing attributes.

The user may also be able to customise everything ergonomically or aesthetically, which is one of the main functions of clothing.

The selected signs may also be composed of a combination of several types of the above-mentioned codes.

In general, codes chosen for signing may be of any type.

The purpose of an article complying with this invention may also be due to the fact that the marking may be a means of “camouflaging” the portable electronic device.

The advantage of this type of signing is so that the portable electronic device can be used discretely, if not undetectably, without forgetting the aesthetic and ergonomic aspect of such camouflage, and which is an essential aspect of clothing.

For example, the portable electronic device 10 may be “flat” in shape and it may be inserted in a tie or in a scarf with colour codes or patterns, preferably that are aesthetic.

The portable electronic device 10 is also preferably a radio device.

In particular, the portable electronic device 10 may be a portable telephone. 

1. Textile article comprising a receptacle (20) adapted to contain a portable electronic device (10), characterised in that it also comprises functional markings (21-24) on one accessible face of the receptacle (20), composed of at least one code, the markings being arranged to coincide exactly with the locations of control devices of the portable electronic device, such that each code can be placed facing a control device of the portable electronic device (10), when the portable electronic device (10) is placed in the receptacle (20).
 2. Article according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that the markings (21-24) are fixed on a support.
 3. Article according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that the support comprises an element made of a semi-rigid material.
 4. Article according to one of the two previous claims, characterised by the fact that the support comprises an element made of a non-slip material.
 5. Article according to one of the four previous claims, characterised by the fact that the receptacle (20) comprises at least one material selected from the group including a polymer material, a silicone, a coated engineering fabric, natural and/or artificial fibres, leather.
 6. Article according to one of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the marking codes (21-24) are printed.
 7. Article according to one of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the marking codes (21-24) are embroidered.
 8. Article according to one of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the marking codes (21-24) are woven.
 9. Article according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the marking (21-24) includes colour type codes.
 10. Article according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the marking (21-24) includes distinctive symbol type codes.
 11. Article according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the marking (21-24) includes Braille type codes.
 12. Article according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the receptacle (20) includes opening control means selected from the group including a zip fastener, a loops and hooks closing device, a press stud type element, a magnetic button type element and a staple type element.
 13. Article according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the portable electronic device is of the radio type device. 